Leinster SFC Quarter-final replay/ Dublin 0-16 Meath 0-12:So Dublin prevailed in this, the latest squall in their historic feud with Meath. In doing so they were reasonably efficient and avoided handing up the lead when they established it.
They didn't do enough to illuminate Croke Park or leave any but the most delusional citizens of Dub Nation with the impression that they are September bound. Then again this was a replay against Meath. Victory is always sufficient unto the day.
Meath's young team meander off into the qualifier system and they will be relatively nonplussed by their ultimate failure yesterday. They had chances to alter the course of the game and in Stephen Bray had perhaps the best forward on view.
Colm Coyle's team have come a long way in a short space of time. The journey will have girded them for what is ahead.
Dublin were more of a no-frills outfit yesterday than they have been in recent years. They dispensed with the tired theatrics of their pre-match walk towards the Hill and didn't huff and puff for the opening 20 minutes before blowing themselves out.
As such, it was a more mature and more measured performance than Dublin have delivered in some time and even if it looked for a while as if, fatally, they had taken the boot off Meath's throat, they finished out the day with a clinical efficiency that has long been lacking.
The game also marked an arrival of sorts. Mark Vaughan has been knocking around as the fluorescent next big thing in Dublin football for some time. Few have doubted his ability but many have questioned his temperament. Yesterday he left his business card. Eight points, six of them from the dead-ball duties he took over from Mossy Quinn. It was an impressive statement of intent which included a sideline kick more impressive than the one Cian Ward landed to trigger this replay two weeks ago.
Just as pleasing for the sizeable Dublin brains trust was the performance of Ross McConnell at full back. For the second championship game in succession McConnell looked composed and self-confident. Dublin's defence may still lack a little meanness but McConnell looks capable of holding the number three shirt with authority.
Both teams made changes from their announced line-ups. As widely expected, Darren Magee didn't start at midfield for Dublin, with Shane Ryan slotting into the vacated position and Vaughan starting in the forwards.
Stephen McGabhann replaced Séamus Kenny at wing back for Meath and curiously, having heralded his return so thoroughly, Meath opted to keep Brian Farrell in reserve and start their impact sub Cian Ward.
The decision to start Ward was uninspired. Farrell was drafted in to replace Joe Sheridan before the break and looked a livelier prospect. Ward was withdrawn not far into the second half not long after having missed a 45.
Meath started with more swagger than they had shown in the drawn game. Ward struck a free in the first minute and when Vaughan hit the post with one from 14 yards a minute later the Hill let out a fatalistic groan.
Things improved quickly though for the Leinster champions. Brendan Murphy and Anthony Moyles got their signals confused under a high ball and Colin Moran nipped in for a point where a goal looked the more likely outcome.
Conal Keaney added another point with a free from his hands but Dublin's confidence took a knock a minute later when Alan Brogan came scorching through on goal only to place his shot into the side netting.
Brogan suffered from there on but Meath let the reprieve swell them for awhile. Graham Geraghty, the Hill's favourite bête noir, tormented David Henry in a brief cameo where he scored two points, the first with a catch over the defender's head, the second taking the ball past him at pace. It was to Henry's credit that Geraghty wouldn't score again for the remaining hour.
There were times when Meath looked fluent and confident like the Royals of old. Keaney having equalised with another free, Meath moved the ball the entire length of the left wing for Bray to finish with a splendid point.
Dublin though seemed less nonplussed by Meath's tendency to nose in front than they often are by their own ability to run up substantial leads. They hauled Meath back consistently and were a couple of points clear when Stephen Cluxton produced a fine save from Kevin Reilly's shot after 26 minutes.
Vaughan kicked a wonderful sideline ball from inside the 14 a minute later and then fed Henry, of all people, a short free for an other point. Vaughan and Bray swapped points for Dublin to go in two points ahead at the break but looking sturdier than they often do with bigger advantages.
For periods of the second half as Nigel Crawford's work-rate at midfield began to produce dividends it looked as if Meath might pull off one of their fabled resurrections. Dublin had stretched their lead to four points before Farrell scored a nice point having seconds earlier popped a nice diagonal ball to Geraghty who again caught over Henry's head only to drive the ball against the bottom of the post.
Farrell followed up the play to score a point but Meath needed more.
Midway through the half it looked as if Meath were at last setting the stage for a grandstand finish. Dublin had faded at midfield and three points in nine minutes, two from Farrell and one from Bray, brought them to within a point with seven minutes left. It was precisely the sort of test which Dublin have failed on many occasions and when Brogan had another wide with five minutes left the old doubts must have been gathering in a few heads.
Dublin, with Jason Sherlock having joined the fray, closed the deal this time, however. Keaney, with a free from his hands and then a prodigious score from play, put the width of a goal between the sides before Brogan, at last recovering his composure, added the grace note of a point which put the issue beyond doubt.
Dublin return to Croke Park next Sunday for the provincial semi-final with Offaly. The true benefits of this tango with Meath should be known then.
DUBLIN: 1 S Cluxton; 2 D Henry (0-1) , 3 R McConnell, 4 P Griffin; 5 P Casey, 6 B Cullen, 7 B Cahill; 8 C Whelan (0-1) , 11 S Ryan; 12 D Connolly, 15 T Quinn, 10 C Moran (0-1); 13 A Brogan (0-1), 14 C Keaney (0-4, three frees). 21 M Vaughan (0-8, four frees, one sideline,'45). Subs : R Cosgrove for Connolly (half-time), J Sherlock for Quinn (53 mins), D Magee for Ryan (63 mins), B Brogan for Moran (71 mins).
MEATH: 1 B Murphy; 2 E Harrington, 4 N McKeigue, 3 D Fay; 18 S MacGabhann, 6 A Moyles (0-1) , 7 C King; 8 M Ward, 9 N Crawford (0-1); 19 C Ward (0-1, free) , 11 K Reilly, 12 P Byrne; 13 S Bray (0-4) , 14 J Sheridan, 15 G Geraghty (0-2) Subs: B Farrell (0-3, one free) for Sheridan (34 mins), P Curran for Ward (47 mins), C McGuinness for King (68 mins), J Donegan for Reilly (70 mins).
YELLOW CARDS: Dublin : B Cahill, C Whelan, S Ryan, R Cosgrove, D Connolly; Meath : N McKeigue.
Referee: P McEnaney ( Monaghan).